Golfers, like any athlete, have very specific physical needs to be successful on the course. Here are the top five keys to golf fitness:

Flexibility
Increased flexibility improves resistance to injury, enables greater range of motion to promote greater club head speed, and allows for a more fluid swing as the body recoils at the top of the backswing.

Muscular Strength and Power
Greater strength is the foundation for power, which leads to increased striking power and distance. Good muscular strength also helps the golfer to keep proper posture for a consistent swing and to maintain the proper swing plane. A strong core (low back, abdominals, and hip flexors and extensors) allows forces to be transferred more efficiently from the lower body to the upper body.

Balance and Coordination
Balance and coordination are the keys to control and accuracy. It also helps to maintain proper swing planes when dealing with a difficult lie.

Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditioning
Golf is primarily an anaerobic (without oxygen) activity, due to the short period of time it takes to execute the golf shot. However, the aerobic system will help with energy recovery from shot to shot maintaining swing consistency, keeping you at your best from the first through the eighteenth hole.

Injury Prevention
The biggest concern for golfers is overuse injury. The repetitive nature of the sport makes the body prone to injury. The pure nature of the golf swing makes one side of the body stronger than the other, also contributing to injuries. The most common injury sites in golf are the low back, hips, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Nearly half of all golf injuries occur in the lower back. The rotational forces in the low back make it prone to injury, particularly if it is weak and inflexible.

A well designed golf strength and conditioning program will address of these needs.